The self-inflicted end of Bashir’s 30-year rule

Here in Sudan, claims of responsibility for the downfall of the government of Omar Al-Bashir have become commonplace. On the dusty walls of buildings are graffiti-like writings proclaiming hashtags “just fall and still not fallen”. Sudanese capital Khartoum is awash with major players claiming victory for the removal of Al- Bashir.

The claimants range from the communist party and the professional association to conspiracy theories implicating foreign governments and even the ruling National Congress party itself.

In truth, no one factor or group of people can honestly claim to be solely responsible. Al-Bashir’s downfall followed a series of coincidental, self-inflicted and orchestrated events that created a hostile political and economic climate, thus making change inevitable.

Protests in Sudan – Cartoon [Sabaaneh/MiddleEastMonitor]

Protests in Sudan – Cartoon [Sabaaneh/MiddleEastMonitor]

First in line would undoubtedly be the separation from South Sudan, the loss of 75 per cent of the country’s revenue and Juba’s insistence on receiving the majority of the revenue passing through the oil pipeline. This caused major economic difficulties just weeks following the split of the two countries.

The second factor was the battle to remove the US economic embargo. In October 2017, when President Donald Trump’s administration nominally lifted the sanctions, expectations were that the economy would be kick started. In truth the sanctions remain in place to this day, with no official release of funds via the Office of Foreign Assets Control being permitted.

In addition, the prosecution of French bank BNP Paribas – serving as a duplicate central bank allowing Sudan to bypass sanctions – finally brought an end to the........